Osaka Travel Guide

Blithe and edgy Osaka is the hyperactive younger brother of Tokyo. The heart of the Kansai region is a busy metropolis of close to 3 million people and a significant, influential player in the global economy. The industrial and business side of Osaka, however, is unlikely to interest casual tourists. What will undoubtedly entice and cajole is a phenomenal range of bustling commercial districts, tantalizing pedestrian restaurant rows, raucous nightlife, sacred shrines, temples and museums. The drum beat in Osaka is fast and feverish but duly enchants visitors anxious to commune with a dynamic urban swath of Honshu island outside of Greater Tokyo.

The food culture of Osaka gets a lot of attention and rightfully so. The de facto kitchen of Japan is awash with culinary innovators and pioneers. As a shopper's Shangri-La, Osaka has specific areas that cater to every interest, from luxury goods and electronics, to fashion and furniture. For those in need of cultural sustenance, Osaka has it in droves. A slew of historic parks and shrines dot the cityscape and compete with niche museums and a notable theater scene for your attention and time.

Osaka’s Top 10

10. Osaka Aquarium, or Kaiyukan, is fun for kids of all ages and is one of the largest in the world.

5. Osaka Science Museum contains a massive Omnimax cinema and one of the top 5 planetariums in the world.

9. Umeda Sky Building is not the tallest high-rise in Osaka but it is the most distinctive. Worth a tour, from the underground market to the skydeck observatory.

4. Osaka Castle sits on a tract of land that covers 15 acres and many important cultural assets.

8. Amerikamura Triangle Park is the place to observe the unique rituals of Japanese youth subcultures.

3. National Museum of Ethnology makes fabulous use of former World Expo ‘70 digs in Suita.

Tempozan Ferris Wheel – This gigantic wheel rates a ride for its breathtaking vistas of the ocean, the city and the mountains.

Osaka Sport

Watch high-voltage sumo wrestling at the Osaka Prefecture Gymnasium.

Cycle or jog around the winding trails of Osaka’s Maishima Jogging Island.

Rent a yacht or dinghy and sail the waters of the Hokko Yacht Harbour.

Go surfing, jet skiin, or play beach volleyball at the Nishikinohama Beach Park.

Catch live football or rugby action in the 20,000-seater Kincho Stadium.

Osaka Local

Osaka proper is home to 2.7 million people. The central part of the city is split between Kita (north) and Minami (south), with Midōsuji boulevard as the major axis. Kita envelops Umeda and Minami is home to the Namba, Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori districts. The traditional financial and business districts of Osaka, Yodoyabashi and Honmachi, reside between Kita and Minami as well. In all, Osaka has 24 wards (ku).

Asahi-ku has a famous covered shopping street in Sembayashi Shōtengai and points of interest like Shirokita Park and the Osaka Municipal Space of Art.

Chūō-ku is a busy economic, commercial, transport and consulate hub, with landmarks like Osaka Castle, Shinsaibashi-suji arcade, the Amerikamura retail and entertainment precinct and perhaps the most popular tourist pulse point in Osaka, Dōtonbori. The vibrant artery of restaurants and shops, once a seedy red-light strip, is now much more famous as a requisite pilgrimage for global foodies.

Higashisumiyoshi-ku is home to Nagai Park, Nagai Botanical Garden and the Osaka Museum of Natural History.

Ikuno-ku’s Tsuruhashi district is a famous hub for Korean food.

Kita-ku is the ward of Umeda, the downtown or central business district of Osaka and home of Osaka Station, numerous skyscrapers, malls and department stores.

Minato-ku has a few notable points of interest, such as Osaka Aquarium, the Modern Transportation Museum and the vast Port of Osaka.

Naniwa-ku is another commerical hive of activity and home to Nipponbashi (Den Den Town), a major area for electronics and manga. Other important landmarks include Namba Parks, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Shinsekai district and the Osaka Human Rights Museum.

Nishi-ku is home to the Osaka Dome and Utsubo Park.

Suminoe-ku has several impressive attractions, from the Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building to the Osaka Maritime Museum.

Sumiyoshi-ku is the eponymous home of the Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine.

Tennōji-ku contains some remarkable temples and green spaces, such as Shitennō-ji and Tennōji Park and Zoo.

Yodogawa-ku’s Jūsō is a gritty red-light enclave of the city with noisy, unfussy bars and restaurants that local hipsters covet and frequent on weekends.

Osaka Eat & Drink

The Osakan appetite for food and drink is legendary and while the reputation may come with some embellishment, the city is a boon for gourmands. The old proverb "dress (in kimonos) till you drop in Kyoto, eat till you drop in Osaka" is apropos. From iconic bar snacks to Korean, staples like takoyaki and okonomiyaki to luxurious sushi, the culinary scene in Osaka is a tasty patchwork.

Mogami (Shinsaibashisuji 2-2-10, Chūō-ku) is a kushikatsu institution in Osaka.

Osaka is dynamic with or without festivals. Indeed, several conspicuous areas of the city resonate with a carnival-like atmosphere on a near-nightly basis. The event calendar is chock-full, however, for those who want to take in local culture.

Osaka Asian Film Festival showcases cinematic talent from the continent every March.

Tenjin Matsuri has a history of more than 1,000 years and is one of the most venerable annual events in Japan. Held on July 24 and 25, the festival takes place at Tenman Shrine and features theatrical performances, costumed parades, boat processions and fireworks.

Aizen Matsuri is a love, luck and matrimony temple festival held from June 30 to July 2. The festival features colorful processions of girls in traditional yukata summer dress.

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is the most famous cart festival in Japan. Held in Kishiwada city, about one hour south of Umeda by subway and train, the Shinto harvest festival is over 300 years old and features elaborate, boisterous cart parades in September and October.

Tōka-Ebisu is a lively luck and prosperity festival held in January at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Naniwa-ku and throughout Osaka. Inherent events and processions lure as many as 1 million people.

Osaka Dome is the home stadium for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League.

Traditional kabuki is on hand at Shin-Kabuki-za and Osaka Shōchiku-za, two of the better theaters in Japan.

The Sumo Spring Grand Tournament takes place in mid-March at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.

When To Go

Osaka has a four season humid subtropical climate. Summer swelters with a temperature range of 68°F (20°C) to 91.5°F (33°C). Factor in the humidex and it often feels much warmer on a June or July afternoon. The months of May, June, July and September feature a lot of rain as well, though no time of year is immune from a downpour in Osaka.

Weather-wise, October, November and April stand out for overall comfort, with temperatures between 50°F (10°C) and 73°F (23°C).

What To Miss

Shinsaibashi is Osaka’s crown jewel commercial and retail district and has all the telltale hallmarks of a shopper’s paradise. From the uber youth culture trendsetter Amerikamura to the electronics emporium of Nipponbashi, the Chuo-ku district is decidedly must-see. Few areas, however, highlight just how costly Osaka and, indeed, Japan, can be for international travelers. The city is seldom not at the top of annual expensive city indices and Shinsaibashi shops drive the point home.

Though some guidebooks and locals exhort visitors not to set foot in Shinsekai, Osaka’s early 20th century tribute to New York City and Paris, the old ‘hood is a lot safer than in years past. While urban revivalism has not completely rid the area of poverty and red-light pachinko parlor grime, Shinsekai is worth a walk-through. Preferably in daylight, however.

Osaka has some tourist traps that deserve a pass. Tsūtenkaku is the most conspicuous landmark in Shinsekai but the Eiffel-ish observation tower is not worth the time and effort. Universal Studios Japan is undeniably popular but the amusement park feels counterfeit and lifeless. Much more critical, however, is the fact that it sits on top of a toxic industrial waste site. If you want to have fun with the kids in Osaka, Dōtonbori is a wild, authentic ride.

Spa World, also in Shinsekai, combines the venerable Japanese onsen with the scale of a theme park. The result is not necessarily blissful. A lot of people love the place but more tranquil and genuine thermal resorts reside in Kansai.

Getting Around

Kansai International Airport was built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay in 1994 to alleviate pressure from Osaka-Itami International, which was at capacity and could not logistically expand. The latter now serves as the primary domestic hub for the Kansai region, with up to 20 million passengers a year. Kansai International handles up to 15 million passengers a year, with service to the likes of New York-JFK, San Francisco, Honolulu, Seattle-Tacoma, Beijing-Capital, Hong Kong, Shanghai-Pudong, Busan, Seoul-Incheon, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Cairns, Sydney, Bangkok, Delhi, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore.

Kansai International connects to Osaka by rapid rail and the trip is fairly easy to navigate. Osaka-Itami has a monorail and suburban rail line to the city but most visitors take the more convenient airport limo bus. Taxis can be prohibitively expensive.

The train is the way to travel in Honshu, Japan and Osaka is duly easy to get to via shinkansen (or a host of other options for Japan Rail Pass holders) from the likes of Hiroshima, Kobe, Kyoto and Tokyo. Moreover, countless bus operators ply routes between every major and minor city in Honshu and the Osaka International Ferry Terminal has regular service to Busan and Shanghai.

Transport in the Keihanshin Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto megalopolis benefits from a high degree of development and sophistication. The Osaka Municipal Subway is one of the busiest metro systems in the world, although with 2.2 million daily passengers, has only a quarter the ridership of the Tokyo subway. The Midosuji Line is the primary conduit in the subway network. In order to negotiate the hodpodge of commuter rail lines and municipal trains throughout Keihanshin and Kansai, consider the five-day consecutive limitless Kintetsu Rail Pass the best bet.

Frenetic Osaka is like the boisterous younger brother of Tokyo - in the eyes of some at least. With a busy population of under 3 million, the notable city of shops, bars and restaurants is an absolute gem. The food culture for one, is unlike any other in Japan. Osaka has a reputation as the nation's kitchen and culinary innovations in the vast city seem to know no limits. From udon noodles to okonomiyaki bars and octopus balls, the endless parade of local treats will cause both eyes and stomach to bulge.

As a shopper's paradise, Osaka has specific areas that cater to every interest, from luxury goods, electronics, fashion, mange and anime and much more. For those in need of cultural substance, Osaka has it in spades. A number of historic parks and shrines dot the cityscape and compete with superb museums and a notable kabuki theater scene for tourist's attention.

Attractions & Activities

Attractions

National Museum of Art

Osaka Science Museum

Osaka International Peace Center

Mitami Shrine

Osaka Castle

Activities

National Bunraku Theater

Cherry Blossom Festival

Golden Week

Shitennoji Temple Doya Doya Festival

Aizen Festival

Restaurant & Nightlife

Restaurants

Kogaryu

Fugetsu

Bar Tachibana

Kani Doraku

Nightlife

Club Quattro

Club Karma

Cinquecento

Covent Garden

Sam and Dave Umeda

Climate

With wet, hot and humid summers and typhoon season in September and October, the best time to visit Osaka may be the mild spring.

Hotels in Osaka

Recommended hotels

Swissotel Nankai Osaka invites savvy travellers to lavish accommodations equipped with state-of-the-art facilities set in the bustling shopping and entertainment hub of Osaka. This luxury hotel... More

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Family Trip

We're really enjoy our trip. Have really nice view from our room. The staff were helpful. It was very close to Namba station that is what a choice for.

Hotel New Otani Osaka welcomes travellers to an idyllic retreat with lavish spaces set in a convenient city centre location. Located along the riverside in Osaka Business Park, this Osaka hotel... More

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Centrally located and beautiful hotel

Located within 300 metres of JR Osakajokoen Station and Osaka Business Park Subway Stations, this beautiful hotel was great value for money. Staff were extremely helpful and room was large.

big room in Japan

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka provides modern travellers refined elegance and luxurious accommodations in the heart of bustling Osaka. A trip to this part of Japan is not complete without checking... More

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Very convenient and great service

The location is very convenient and great service from the staff. Highly recommended to stay in this hotel.

Hilton Osaka hotel welcomes urbane travellers to deluxe accommodations and understated grandeur set in the heart of vibrant Osaka. Tourists at this elegant hotel can travel to Osaka Castle or enjoy... More

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Very good but...

Excellent service from staff and a generally comfortable room let down by the lack of free wifi in our room (only being available in the ground floor lobby), lack of toothpaste and some other basic...

Prices reflect the lowest "base rate" found over the next 30 days. Rates are subject to change and may not include taxes and fees, hotel service charges, extra person charges, or incidentals, such as room service. Converted rates are provided for your convenience. They are based on today's exchange rate, but the hotel will charge you in the local currency. Taxes may be payable in addition.